Aerial torpedo



L. B. SPEHRY.

AERIAL TORPEDQ. APPLICATION FILED DEc.22, |916.

Ll., 'Patented June 6, 1922.,

v3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

LWREA/[f B. SPERRK L. B. SPERRY.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.22.191.6.

1,4189605, Patentedune 6, 1922 3 SHEETS-'SHEET 2- Fg. l INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE B SPERRY L. B. SPYEIIIIY.,

AERIAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED DI-:c.22, 191s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR LVVENCE B. .SPERRK -gzmlwmmm ATTQRNEY.

NETE@ STATES.

Partnr' orare.

LAWRENCE BURST SPERRY, oF BROOKLYN, NEW

GYROSCOPE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AERIAL /TORPEDQ Specification of Letters Patent. Pgmgmljcgd J 11111111@ 6, i922.

Application led December 22, 1916. Serial'No. 138,485.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE B. SPERRY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 1505 Albemarle Road, Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certainv new and useful Improvements in Aerial Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to means whereby all of the controls ofan aeroplane, dirigible balloon or the like are rendered entirely automatic whereby an operative automobile aerial torpedo may be produced. In carrying out my invention I employ an automatic device for` steering the aircraft in azimuth which is preferably of a gyroscopic nature, a

means for maintaining the lateral and longitudinal stability of the craftf if the type of craft used is not inherently stable, means for governing the height at which the craft flies and means for discharging either directly or indirectl the explosive charge at a predetermine point in the flight of the torpedo.

Referring to the drawings in which what I now consider to be the preferred form of my invention are shown: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the Various controls employed. Fig. 2 is a detail section of an instrument termed a revolution counter which controls the point at whiohthe explosive is discharged. Fig. 3 is an end View of the same. Fig. 4 is a section of the gears of F ig. 2 on line 4 4. Fig. 5 is a Vertical'section of the instrument used toA govern the height at which the torpedo flies. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of the instrument for controlling the point at which the explosive is` discharged. In this instance the instrument is in the form of a chronometer. Fig. 8' is an elevation of the same, partly broken away. Fig. 9 is a side elevation partly -in section of the preferredA form of generator for supplying current to operate the various controls. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a torpedo mounted on a launching track. Fig. 11 is an end elevation partly in section of the gyroscope used to control the steering. F ig.` 12 is a section on line 12-12 Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Fig. 1.

My invention is shown as applied `rto the aeroplane type of aircraft. It may be of any desired construction although of course as no passengers are carried it Amay be much smaller than the ordinary passenger aeroplane. It may be either of the inherently stable or of the neutral-stable type. If of the former type, or if a .,dirigible balloon is employed, the stabilizingdevices hereinafter.

described need not be employed.

The aeroplane is shown in Fig. 10 as consisting of a body portion 1v on the forward portion of which is mounted an explosive charge 2 and the propeller 3. A cap 4 may be used to ignite the explosive on vstriking an object.

The main supporting planes of the aeroplane are shown at 5 and 6 while the vertical rudder, horizontal rudder and ailerons are shown at 7, 8 and9 respectively. The torpedo may be driven from any source of power such as an internal combustion engine (not shown) mounted within the body 1.

One of the most important elements in securing a successful torpedo of this character isa steering device which will unfallmgly keep the aeroplane on the course upon which it was originally set. To provide such a means I prefer to employ a gyroscope 10 (see Figs. 1, 10, and 11).' Said gyroscopepreferably comprises an electrically driven rotor 11, journalled within a rotor be/aring frame or casing 12 which in turn is mounted for oscillation about horizontal axis13^with in a vertical ring 14. The said ring in turn is swiveled about a vertical axis on pivots' 15-16 within framework 17. The gyroscope is preferably non-pendulous or perfectly bal: a-nced and is, as will be seen, provided with three degrees of freedom. It maybe provided with an adjustable weight 18 if desired to compensate for variations in latitude.

The steering mechanism is controlled by variations which take place in the angular position of' the gyroscope and aeroplane. For this purpose electrical contacts 19-20 may be esecured tothe vertical ring 14 while a cooperating trolley or brushA 21 is mounted on some relatively fixed portion'of the YORK, ASSIGNOR'TO THE SPERRY l aeroplane. Preferably the said trolley is the trolley to various portions with respect to the gyroscope for purposes hereinafter described. The worm wheel 22 may/be set by means of worm 24 and knob 25. Trolley 21 is preferably p-ivotally mounted at 21 on a lever 121 which in turn is mounted on gear 22 on pivot 23 so that the trolley may be moved with reference tothe gear by means of connecting members or wires 23', forming a follow-up connection from the steering mechanism. Said contact and trolley are in circuit with coils 25-26 on a servo motor 27. The servo motor is shown as comprising gears 28 and 29 which are continuously driven inl opposite .directions from a wind mill or an 30 on shaft 30'-l by means of nter-meshing pinions 32, 33. A clutch disc 34 mounted upon shaft 35 is positioned between said gears 28, 29, the gears being provided with clutch faces with which the disc is adapted to engage. As either magnet 25-26 is excited the corresponding gear will be thrown against the discs 34 and the shaft 35 revolved to actuate the vertical rudder 7 through bevel gears 37 and connecting wires 38.;Vy From the drum follow-up wires 23 above referred to lead back to the trolley 21. v

As the details of the preferred form of my servo motor, for this and similar uses, are set forth fully in my co-pending application No. 87,434 for automatic pilots for aeroplanes, filed March 29, 1916, Afurther elaboration of the exact construction of the servo motor need not b e presented here.

For controlling both the longitudinal and lateral stability I prefer to employ one or more gyroscopes 41 of the type set forth. in

the above mentioned application. A sthere explained the gyroscopic unit comprises a pendulous gyroscope mounted on a vertical spinning axis and controlling both. the longitudinal and lateral controlsv by two sets of contacts 4243 positioned so as to be moved by the relative movement of the' gyroscope about either axis. The contacts 43 which with the aeroplane .flying in the direction of the arrow 44 would govern the longitudinal stability are shown as mounted o n the horizontal gimbal ring 45 While the contacts 42 are secured to a` swinging loop 46 connected to the'gyroscope so as to `re ceive motion'about the longitudinal axis.

As is the case with the steering gyroscope I prefer to provide thecooperating brushes with a follow-up system. Forthis purpose Ache .arm 46 which supports the plurality of brushes 47 is shown `as pivotally mounted and secured t0 a pulley 48 around which'the follow-up Wires 49 from the horizontal rud- .der 8 extend. `Similarly bushl 42 is'connected to al pulley 51 over which follow-up wires 52 are placed leading from the ailerons 9. The brush 54 is normally in circuit and 'is so positioned as to cause the machine to climb rapidly. Means are provided to shift the effective position of the brushes as csoon as the aeroplane rises to or above the predetermined height. For this' purpose I place in circuit with brush 54 a relay 55 which, when operating magnet 56 is excited, breaks the circuit of brush 54 at point 57 and places the second brush 157 in circuit. The latter brush may be located so as to cause the machine tobe positioned in a substantially horizontal position vor otherI Words, so that it will descend slightly While flying, or at least not rise. Magnet 56v is operated by means of barometric device 58 which may assume the formvshown in Figs. 5 and 6. This device comprises an aneroid barometer, comprising the usual expansion chamber 59 multiplying mechanism 60 and index 61. On the said barometer and preferably'f attached to the index stem 62 is a contact member 63 adapted to come into contact with a second member 64'when a predetermined altitude is reached .vor exceeded. Preferably member 64 is made adjustable so that the instrument may be set for vflying at different heights. For this purpose ity may be secured t-o a ring 65 rotatably mounted on the top of the casing 66 of the barometer.

It will be seen that the excitationof mag-` i `71 made, which will 'place a third brush 72 in the circuit and throvs7 out both Aof the other brushes. Brush 72 is set fora steep and rapiddescentof the aeroplane and 1s only designed to be thrown in circuit when theA aeroplane has reached a point near/ the target at which it was originally aimed.

y The roblem to be solved in devising a success ul aerial torpedo will be seen to be somewhat different from an under-water tor pedo, as inthe latter type the torpedo is usually fired merely by contact Without any reference to how far or how long it hastraveled before striking the object. In the air,4 on the other hand, it is usually necessary to fly the torpedo at a much greater height than the' object at which it is aimed extends so that it would never strikefthe object unless means are provided to alter its course or elevation when it nears the object.

To excite the said magnet 69 7any means for indicating or measuring distance may be employed. In one form of the invention I have shown a revolution counter 75 designed to be driven from the propeller shaft 76 (see Fig. 2). Such aj counter will indicate with comparative exactness the distance throughy the air or medium through which the torpedo is driven and since the air currents are of relatively slow velocity compared with the speed of t-he aeroplane,- such indicator will designate the approximate distance traveled. The exact-ness of this indication, of course, may be: increased by noting the direction and the velocity of air currents before launching the torpedo and Inaking due allowance therefor in the setting to anydesired relation with the pmion 79k.

Gear 80 is provided with a contact 83 adapted to engage a fixed contact 84 on the casing 85 or other part of the revolution counter. A notch 86 may be provided in said gear so that the pinion 79 will run into it and the gear 80 be stoppedwhen the cont-acts 83 and 84 are engaged. By this or a similar method l' provide `means for making sure that the aeroplane will continue to descend when the descent is once started. Contacts 83 and 84 are of course, in circuit with magnet 69. nstead .of employing a revolution counter or the like l may employ a chronometer 101 for indicating distance. As the normal speed of the aeroplane is known, a chronometerv may be used to advantage for this purpose. The chronometer is provided with contacts 83 adapted to. be operated after a predetermined period Yof time has lelapsed, in a manner similar to that described in the revolution counter. l may provide a switch 87 on the aeroplane so that either the revolution counter or the chronometer may be used, at will.

`As above stated, I prefer to drive the servo motor by a windmill 30. l alsol prefer to' .generate the electricity neceary for oper- -ating the various controls above described i by a Wind driven fan.v A desirable form of dynamo electric machine is shown in Fig. 9 and consists Aof a tubular body portion 90 having a tapering stream line tail 91. rlhe 'forward portion is closedby the enlarged f 5'5 hub 191`-of the turbine blades 92., Preferably the said machine is designed.'

` to 'furnish-bothpalternating and direct current. As shown, twoL separate Y generators are provided for thispurpose, the direct curl rent generator being-'indicated -at 95 and the alternating current machine at 96. The direct current machine is employed to actuate the servo motor and operate all other devices .in the torpedo for 'which such current is suitable, while the A. C. 'generator is used for track. If such a turntable is not provided driving the stabilizing and steering roscopes (see Fig. l). The field 102 of the C. generator may be excited from the D. C. machine. The alternating current yapparatus is shown as a three phase type, the generator being an inductor alternator while the gyro motors are three phase induction motors; the rotor 11 forming the gyro wheel while all the windings are placed on the stator 196.

As l nd it desirable to have both gyroscopes in full operation before the torpedo takes the air, I prefer to place the generator 90 in the stream line of the propeller 3, so that the wind caused by the propeller as soon as the engine is started will quickly bring the generator up to speed. The servomotor, also, may be similarly positioned.

The operation of my invention is as follows: y

The torpedo is preferably launched from a track 99 or the like so .that the direction in which it takes the air will be known. lf desired the track may be mounted on a turntable 100 so that the torpedo can be fired in any desired direction; The tor; pedo body may be made without wheels and a launching carriage 200 provided upon which the torpedo rests. Blocks 201 and 202 are attached to the torpedo body and rest in shallow pockets 203, 204, on carriage 200. When the torpedo starts to move forward it takes the carriage with it, but as soon as itl starts to rise it leaves the carriage on the or circumstances are such that the torpedo cannot be launched in the direction in which it is deslred to fly, for instance, if it is found .desirable to always launch the torpedo into the wind, l may make use Aof the knob 25 105' above referred'to which shifts the position of the trolley 21 with respect to the gyroscope. It will readily be seen that if it is desired that the torpedo should ily on a course at right angles to the launching track all that is necessary is to set the trolley at' 90o to the line of the track or to the fore and aft line of the aeroplane. Upon being launched, therefore, the trolley 21 and the contacts 19-20 on which it is placed will operate the rudder 7 and turn the aeroplane until it brings the trolley back to .the insu? lated section between the contacts.

'Upon taking the air the torpedo will rise rapidly sinceas shown in Fig. 1 contact tis i2@ normally in circuit with .the `servo motor. Y As soon, however, as the torpedo reaches the desired height the aneroid barometer Contact will operate fthe relay to throw brush 157 in circuit and thereby cause the aeroplane to slightly descend. This Awill continue until the barometer contactis again broken and the plane will rise again. The flight will. continue `until the predetermined distance has been traveled, `vor in other words, until the 13G the usual manner.

revolution ycounter or the chronometer compels the contact to operate relay 68 whereupon brush .72 be `thrown in circuit and the .aeroplane caused to descend sharply.A As

Said solenoid serves to withdraw catch 153'- nal rudder.

thereby releasing trigger 154,- fto ire the cap l5() and charge 2.

In accordance with-the provisions ofthe patent statutes,l have` herein described the principle of operation of my'invention, together with the' apparatus. which l now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have ity understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more lgeneral results outlined, andthe invention extends to such use.

Having described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure Patentis: Y

`l. In an aerial torpedo, the co'mbination with longitudinal control means, of a gyroscope for normally maintainingsaid means in an ascendingposition, a barometric'device and means brought into operation bv said device and actin scope for setting sai substantially horizontal positionV 2. ln an aerial torpedo, the. combination,

with longitudinal control means, of a pendulous device for normally controlling said means, a barometric device, and means corinecting said Abarometric pendulous'devices whereby the former alters'the efective relation between the latter andthe control means lwithout disturbing'the former anda iollovv-v up connectlon between the gyroscope and with 'a rudder anda device adapted to-ina'm-I said control means.'

3. Inan aerial torpedo the combination with longitudinal andA verticalv controlv rudi' ders of a roscope for normally controlling said longitudinal' rudder, a gyroscope l:for controlling said vertical rudder,- a source of power forcontinuously spinning said gyroscope and a' barometric `device also eiecting. said longitudinalrudder.

' 4. In an aerial torpedo4 the combination" with longitudinalv control means, of a pendulousfdev'ice for normally 'controlling' said means, and a distance responsive-device also affecting said means.

distance responsive device, and means for by Letters through said7 gymcontrol means to a" of. said charge.

. e'ywswres,

5. ln an aerial' torpedo, the combination, with a longitudinal control vmember of a pendulous device r-ior normally controlling said member, a distance responsive device and -means connecting said devices whereby the former alters the. effectiveA relation be- Y 1 se 7. In an aerial torpedo, the combination with a longitudinal control member, of a vbamome't'ric device for' normally controlling saidjnemben and a distance4 responsive device or turning said member toI a new posi- 8.5 i'JIlOILv V- .A

8. In an` automobile dirigible device, meansV forsteering it through its enveloping medium at. a predetermined altitude, a

altering the altitude 'of flight actuatedby saidl device. i

'9.'lin an aerial torpedo, lin cmbination,

an electro-motor .stabilizing gyroscope, an'

electro-motor steering gyroscope,'a servo-mo- 95 tr electrically controlled from said gyroscopes, and a dynamo electric machine fory driving said gyroscopes and excitingv the' servo-motor, said machine .being lwind driven. Y' v j 10. ln an aerial torpedo, the combination with the explosive Ich'argeof-an aeroplane structure for' carrying'the charge, means for causing said torpedo to ily at .a predetermined height, means for causinggthe sama to maintain its course, and distance responsive meansfor causing descent and detonatlon 11. Inail-aerial torpedo', the'coinloination I with a pendulousdevice, of alongltudmal 11 0 control means, a barometrlc device for normally controlling said means through said pendulous device, and a distancejresponsive device ifor causingdeton'ationfof said 'torpedo. l Y l1115i 12. lnv an aerial torpedo, the combination y tain ,a predetermined position Inj azimuth, of a two art means responsiveto vrelative` turning o the torpedo and 'device for con- 120 trolling the rudder, a follow-up. connection between lthe rudder f andnsaidAV device,- 'and means whereby the relative 'positionoff'said means maybe 'varied to causefthetorpedo tochang'e itscourse.v

13. An aeri ltorpedo, includin'gflongitu-y: dnal, lateral and azimuth. controlm'eans,"

Scopes 'a Wind -dflve generampforsaid i' L] and a servo-motor Connected to .130

so j

erating said baisees said means and actuated electrically from said generator by said g'yroscopes for controlling said means.

14. In a'n aerial torpedo, the combination with a longitudinal control means, of a barometric device for normally controlling said means,and a distance responsive device also affectingsaid means.

v15. In an aerial torpedo, the combination with a longitudinal control member, of a gyroscopic device, means on said device and on an adjacent part of the aeroplane for op- Inember, a barometric device, and means brought into operation by said barometric device for shifting the effective relation between said two means without disturbing the gyroscopic device.

16. In an aerial torpedo the combination with a longitudinal control member, of a gyroscope, means on said gyroscope and on an adjacent part of the aeroplane for operating said member, a distance responsivedevice, and means brought into operation by said device for shifting the effective relation between said two means.

17. In an `aerial torpedo the combination with a longitudinal control member, of a gyroscopic pendulum, means on said pendulum and on an adjacent part of the aerop lane for operating said member, a barometv rie device, a distance responsive device, and

v two means.

means responsive to 'each of said devices for shifting the effective relation between said 18. In an aerial torpedo, the combination with an explosive charge and longitudinal control means, of a means responsive to the happening of. a predetermined event for causing said control means to causer the descent of the torpedo, and means for detonating .after said descent is caused.

19. In an aerial torpedo, the combination i wlth a longitudinal control means, of a pendulous device for normally controlling `said means,

a barometric device affecting said means, and a dlstance' responsive element also affecting' said. means.

20. In an aerial toigpedo, the combination with longitudinal and azimuth control mem` bers, of 'apendulous device and a device adapted-tmamtam a predetermined position in az nth, alterable governing means operable between said members and said de` vices, respectively, and 'meanafor altering said means-whereby in launching said torpedo will both ascend and turn in azimuth before reaching its finalcourse.

21. In an aeroplane, the combination with longitudinal'control means, of a gyroscope,

f an altitude responsive device, alterable means operable-by a relative inclination of the aeroplanel and gyroscope for governing said control means and means controlled by said device for shifting the eli'ective relation be-V said charge at a predetermined interval tween said other two means whereby said control means causes ascent I to a predetermined height and substantially horizontal flight at that height.` y

22. In an aerial torpedo, the combination `with an explosive charge and longitudinal of the aerogiilane iliary element adapted to be brought into actionv at a predetermined point in the flight of the torpedo for causing said control plane to move to a descending position.

24.'In an aerial torpedo, the combination with a launching runway adapted to be set in any desired direction, of a direction maintaining device on the torpedo, means respon-- sive to a change in the relative positions of said device and torpedo for steering the same and means permitting the altering oli.V the relations of said means whereby the tori pedo may be set to any desired course irrespective of the direction of launching. 25. In an aerial torpedo, the combination with a pendulous devlce, of a longitudinal control means', a barometric device for nor' mally controlling said means through said pendulous device, and a distance responsive device also affecting said means.

26. In an aerial'torpedo, the combination with a control-means, a barometric device, for normally controlling said means through said pendulous device, and a distance responsive device also affecting said means through said pendulous device.

27. In an aerial torpedo, comprising a body adaptedl to contain an explosive charge, propelling means for said body, an elevating plane for saidbody, automatic means for governing the position of the same, means responsive to the distance of travel of said body, and means operated by said last named means for changing the normal positionlof said elevating plane.

28; In an aerial torpedo, a body adapted tocontain an explosive charge, propelling means and controlling surfacesv therefor, means for normally maintaining said surfaces in apredetermined position, and means responsiveto the happening of a predgermined event and having connection ith ofthe'trpedo and exploding said charge.

pendulous device, of a longitudinal '29.' In an aerial torpedoa body adapted A tocon'tain an explosive charge, propelling means and controlling surfaces therefor, means for normally maintaining sald suraces in a predetermined position, and time neans having a connectlon` wlthA said surfaces and charge for first causing descent of `he torpedo and then exploding said charge.

` ele-j 30.'An aerial torpedo compr1sing an ator, a pluralityof control elements one of which is gyroscopically stabilized `for con-* a rudder con-- with one of said elements to alter n scope device, a barometric device,

ai'plurality of relatively.

for stabilizing Aone of said elements, a barometric-device connected 'y theelecv Lariano@ Ative relation between "the two elements and a follow-up connection between the'ru der,

and one of said elements.

33. 4ln an aerial torpedo, thecombination with horizontal control means, oi a gyro ing said means. n v

34, ln a aerial torpedo, theI combination with llongitudinal'and vertical control rudders,

cooperate to control said rudders substantially as-described.

35. ln an aerial torpedo, the combination vertical control ruda distance responsive all cooperating to control said4 rudders, and a follow up connection between the rudders and the ,contro s. Y v

ln testimony whereof l have aixed my signature. v v.

with longitudinal and ders, of a gyroscope,

v inw'rennen' BURST ernaar.4

for normally controlling said means,;l and 'a distance responsive device also afectof a gyroscope, a distance responsive' device and a barometric devlce all of which 

